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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed Delhi for a five-nation visit starting with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Other than the UAE, Modi will visit the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.
In the first leg of the visit, Modi will arrive in the UAE to hold talks with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Over the past decade, the UAE has emerged as India's closest partner in West Asia.
In January, MBZ —as the Emirati president is often called— visited India and held talks with Modi. The two sides signed a 10-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement during the visit.
Since MBZ's visit, there has been a string of high-level visits between the two countries. In March, in the midst of the West Asia war in which Iran launched the highest number of attacks on the UAE, Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy visited India. Since al-Hashimy’s visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have visited the UAE and held talks with senior officials, including MBZ.
In the European leg of the visit, the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo will be the centrepiece of the visit.
This will be Modi's first visit to Europe since the finalisation of the free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) earlier this year.
In April, Jaishankar visited the UAE on April 11-12 and held talks with MBZ. He also delivered a personal message from Modi to MBZ.
Jaishankar also separately met UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and their discussions are understood to have covered regional stability and energy cooperation.
Later that month, Doval visited the UAE and met MBZ. Their discussions are understood to have covered regional security, energy security, and the bilateral relationship.
In addition to being India's top partner in West Asia, the UAE is among India's closest partners overall as well. The UAE is one of India’s top trading partners, and bilateral trade touched around $100 billion in 2025. It is also among the biggest investors in the country. The two sides aim to double trade by 2032.
Under the LNG deal signed in January, the UAE will supply LNG worth up to $3 billion for 10 years starting in 2028.
Other than the UAE, Modi will visit the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.
In the first leg of the visit, Modi will arrive in the UAE to hold talks with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Over the past decade, the UAE has emerged as India's closest partner in West Asia.
In January, MBZ —as the Emirati president is often called— visited India and held talks with Modi. The two sides signed a 10-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement during the visit.
Since MBZ's visit, there has been a string of high-level visits between the two countries. In March, in the midst of the West Asia war in which Iran launched the highest number of attacks on the UAE, Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem al-Hashimy visited India. Since al-Hashimy’s visit, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have visited the UAE and held talks with senior officials, including MBZ.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs from Delhi as he embarks on a 5-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy.
On the first leg of his visit, the PM will reach the UAE today, where he will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin… pic.twitter.com/gEO8YxsMbP
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2026
In the European leg of the visit, the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo will be the centrepiece of the visit.
This will be Modi's first visit to Europe since the finalisation of the free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) earlier this year.
In April, Jaishankar visited the UAE on April 11-12 and held talks with MBZ. He also delivered a personal message from Modi to MBZ.
Jaishankar also separately met UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and their discussions are understood to have covered regional stability and energy cooperation.
Later that month, Doval visited the UAE and met MBZ. Their discussions are understood to have covered regional security, energy security, and the bilateral relationship.
In addition to being India's top partner in West Asia, the UAE is among India's closest partners overall as well. The UAE is one of India’s top trading partners, and bilateral trade touched around $100 billion in 2025. It is also among the biggest investors in the country. The two sides aim to double trade by 2032.
Under the LNG deal signed in January, the UAE will supply LNG worth up to $3 billion for 10 years starting in 2028.
